Floating roof seal



Sept. 29, 1931. E. E. SHANOR FLOATING ROOF SEAL Filed Jan. 17, 1931 yatented Sept. 29, 19 31 E. SHANOROF SHARON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE PETROLEUM IRN PATENT. OFFICE WORKS C0. OF OHIO, OF SHARON; PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF OHIO FLOATING ROOF SEAL Application filed Ianuary li, 1981. Serialli'o. 509,435.

Objects of the invention are to provide vsimple and easily erected means for adeuately sealing the annular space between the oating roof or deck and the shell of the tank and while permitting normal horizontal play or motion of the roof, to maintain such control as will make for centering of the roof and thus reduce wear and tear on the sealing provisions; to provide sealing plates having heel and toe portions and fulcrumed intermediate thereof to the edge wall of the roof, the heel being angularly disposed for cooperation with a readily ad usted slid ng spring bolt normally to hold the dependmg free end of the plate against the shell in order to augment the buffer capacity of the plate and to provide for normal centering of the roof, the toe being curved away from the shell to avoid the hazard of fouling rivet heads and other obstructions on the shell; to provide a sealing apron secured at the bottom of the toe of the plate and at top to the deck and floated at intermediate points so that in the event of fire and ignition of gases in the sealing zone, the apron will open up to relieve the forces of explosion and shut again to snuff the flames; and to provide for protecting the seal against the action of the elements.

The nature, characteristic features and 3@ scope of the invention more readily will be understood from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view showing the tank shell, floating roof and sealing means.

Fig. 2 is a face view of one of the sealing plates.

The tank 1, of conventional construction and including shell 2 is designed to receive a floating roof or deck 3 which, aside from the details hereinafter specifically referred to,

also may be of conventional construction and arrangement.

According to my invention a circular series of sealing plates 4 is disposed in the space between the peripheral wall 5 of the deck and the shell of the tank. They are relatively spaced and are fulcrumed or pivotally mounted on pins 6 projecting. from the edge wall 5 and passed through openings 7 in the plates to permit relative play of the latter. The ful crum 8 defines the line of divisionbetween curved lip 23. The general shape of the plates makes for a-desirable bufi'er'or cushion action and this is promoted by stress applied to the heel of the plate. For this purpose a rod 10 havinga heel engaging abutment 11 passes through an opening 12 in the wall 5 and tends normally to draw the heel toward said wall under the solicitation of a coil spring 14 impinging at one end against the wall and at the otherend against an adjusting nut 13. y

The sealing plates cooperate with a sealing apron 16 consisting of fabric impervious to gas or liquid and flame-proof. The upper edge of the apron is secured to the deck wall 5 by metal band 17 secured to place, for example, by the pins 6 on which the sealing plates are mounted. The lower edge of the apron is confined between the curved toe portion of the plate and a clamping plate 18 secured to place by bolts 19. Thus the upper edge of the apron or fabric is sealed relative- 1y to the deck wall while its bottom edge is in sealing relation with respect to the toe portionof the plate and, thus, the spaces between the plates are effectively closed against gas or fluid. At points intermediate the recited points of anchorage the apron or fabric is floated to admit of normal movement of the plates in response to lateral play of the deckand in the event of, fire to be able to in- -stantly open up and thus relieve explosive forces and then to instantly shut in order to snufl flames. The sealing apron or fabric is by preference a continuous element either at one section or a number of connected sections. It may, however, be constituted of independ ent sections so long as the described principle of sealing is maintained.

The'plates 4: are of such length that their curved lips will pass beneath the deck in the event the latter closely approaches the tank wall, as indicated in dotted lines in Ihe sealing plates follow the deck movement both vertically and laterally, and through the tension incident to the spring 14, bear at all times against the shell 2, maintaining an efiective seal at this oint, while the sealin apron seals the area etween the platesan the deck wall 5. Thus, under variable horizontal movement of the deck, effective sealing provisions are established and maintained. As the curved lips of the plates are normally coincident with or below the deck proper, and as the liquid level is necessarily at all times somewhat above the deck level, as at 20, the plates are at all times immersed in the li uid, which not only assists in the sealing e ect, but aids in holding the plates 8. ainst casual displacement from contact with the tank wall.

In order to rotect the seal against the action of the e ements, there is provided a watershed, embodying plate sections 21, pivotally supported at their lower ends on brackets 22, secured to the upper edge of the wall of the deck. Plates 21 are arranged in lapped relation circumferentially of the deck, extend beyond the deck wall, and have inwardly curved upper ends bearin against the shell 2. The curved ends of t e plates make for free vertical movement without interference from tank wall obstructions, while at the same time providing such sealing relation with the tank wall as to insure that water or snow or other matter delivered from above will be directed to the deck, inwardly of the deck wall 5, where the usual provision of a sump or other collector may take care of same.

Having described the invention, I claim- 1. In combination, a storage tank, a floating deck and means for sealing the annular space between them, comprising sealing plates in spaced order of arrangement circumferentially of the deck and fulcrumed with relation to the deck, the fulcrum defining the line of division between heel and toe portions of the plates, said heel portion being angularly directed for the application of stress to hold the de ending curved toe portion against the she I, and a sealin apron secured res ectively to the toe of t e plate and to the eck.

portion against the shell, a sprin bolt carried by the deck and having a bee engaging abutment to provide said stress and a sealing a mu secured respectively to the toe of the p ate and to the deck.

3. In combination, a storage tank, a floating deck and means for sealing the annular s ace between them, comprising sealing p ates in spaced order of arrangement circumferentially of the deck and fulcrumed with relation to the deck, the fulcrum defining the line of division between heel and toe portions of the plates said heel portion being angularly directed for the application of stress to hold the dependin curved toe portion a ainst the shell, an a sealin apron secure at top and bottom res ective to the deck and to the toe of the ate an otherwise floated wherebv it is ree to open up to relieve explosive forces and to close again to snuff flames.

'4. Means for sealing floatin decks of storage tanks, includin sealing p ates arranged circumferentially o the deck in fulcrum relation therewith, pins carried by the deck and en aging the plates to prevent other than in crum movement thereof, the lower ends of the plates being curved and arranged for gliding contact with the shell of the tank, and adjustable means carried by the deck and engaging the plates above the fulcrum to maintain sealing contact between the curved ends of the plates and the shell of the tank.

5. Means for sealing floating decks of storage tanks, including plates arranged in spaced relation circumferentially of the deck, the up er ends of the plates being fulcrumed on t e deck and their lower ends bein curved for contact with the tank wall, ad ustable means for maintaining sealing contact between the curved ends of the plates and the tank wall, and a flexible sealing element secured at its upper edge to the deck and overlying the curved ends of the plates. and clamping plates for securing the lower ed e of said element to each late.

n testimony whereof I a x my signature.

' EDGAR E. SHANOR.

2. In combination, a storage tank, a floating deck and means for sealing the annular s ace between them, comprising sealing p ates in spaced order of arrangement circumferentially of the deck and fulcrumed with relation to the deck, the fulcrum defining the line of division between heel and toe ortions of the lates, said heel portion bemg angularl irected for the application of stress to old the depending curved toe 

